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The Government last night announced a radical overhaul of the allowance and expenses for TDs and Senators following months of public criticism over the size and unvouched nature of such payments.

Under the new system, a raft of allowances payable to members of the Oireachtas each year – including mileage, overnight accommodation, office and constituency expenses – will be replaced by a single parliamentary allowance made up of two block payments: one for travel and accommodation; the second a “public representative allowance”.